Question Words

1. He aha?

   What?

   Usage

   Works on its own; point at the thing as you say it

2. Kei hea?

   Where?

   Usage

   Ask for a place; add a place or object name in front to make a sentence

3. Āhea?

   When?

   Usage

   For departure times and opening hours

4. Ko wai?

   Who?

   Usage

   To ask who is in charge or whose something is

5. He aha ai?

   Why?

   Usage

   Asks for a reason; in some languages it sounds blunt, so smile

6. Me pēhea?

   How?

   Usage

   For how to get somewhere or how to use something

7. E hia?

   How many?

   Usage

   Asks a count; hold up fingers to confirm the number

8. E hia te utu?

   How much is it?

   Usage

   The core shopping question; ask them to show the figure on a calculator

9. Ko tēhea?

   Which one?

   Usage

   When you need someone to pick from several options

10. He aha tēnei?

    What is this?

    Usage

    Point at an unfamiliar item in a market or eatery

11. Kei hea te wharepaku?

    Where is the toilet?

    Usage

    One of the most-used travel questions — memorise it whole

12. He aha te wā?

    What time is it?

    Usage

    Ask the time; having them show a clock face avoids number confusion

13. Kei a koe?

    Do you have it?

    Usage

    Asks about stock or vacancy; put it after the name of the thing

14. Ka taea e koe?

    Can you do it?

    Usage

    Checks whether a request is possible; also opens a price negotiation

15. He utu tō tēnei?

    Is there a charge?

    Usage

    For luggage storage, Wi-Fi, or entry — check before you use it

16. He kore utu?

    Is it free?

    Usage

    Confirm that a sample, a bottle of water, or a service costs nothing

17. He pai tēnei?

    Is this OK?

    Usage

    For asking permission; use it with a pointing gesture

18. Kāore e taea?

    Is it not allowed?

    Usage

    For double-checking after being turned down

19. Kei te pai koe?

    Are you OK?

    Usage

    Checking on someone's wellbeing — a different role from asking permission

20. He pono?

    Really?

    Usage

    A quick check when something surprises you

21. Kei te tino mōhio koe?

    Are you sure?

    Usage

    Pressing for confirmation of a fact — more formal than He pono?

22. Nō hea koe?

    Where are you from?

    Usage

    A natural conversation opener

23. Ko wai tō ingoa?

    What's your name?

    Usage

    A natural conversation opener

24. E hia ō tau?

    How old are you?

    Usage

    Asking a stranger's age directly, especially a woman's, can feel intrusive — best kept to close friends or children

    Grammar Note

    Literally "how many are your years"

25. He pai te tango whakaahua tahi?

    Can we take a photo together?

    Usage

    For asking permission

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